Apparatus for compressing cotton, wool, &amp;c.



(Application filed June 2, 1899.;

2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(N9 Model.)

lhvent ors: rye/2 .Lowrg Geo Wds'onMHolmes, by

No. 669,260; Patented Mar. 5, l90l.

V G. A. LOWBY & W. M HOLMES.

APPARATUS FOR GOIIPBESSING COTTON, WOOL, 8w.

pplication filed June 2, 1899. 2'Sheets-Shaet 2.

FFICE.

ATENT (UNITED STATES GEORGE A. LOW'RY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, AND WATSON M. HOLMES, OF HOOSICK FALLS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORS TO THE PLANTERS COMPRESS COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

'APPARATUS FOR COMPRESSING COTTON, WOOL, 80C.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent N0. 669,260, dated'March 5, 1 901.

Application filed June 2, 1899. Serial No. 719,061- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: reference-sign wherever it occurs throughout Be it known that We, GEORGE A. LOWRY, the several views.

residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and In Patents Nos. 581,600 and 581,601, grant- State of Illinois, and WATSON M. HOLMES, reed April 29, 1897, and in pending applica- .qo siding at Hoosick Falls, in the county of Renstion, Serial No. 682,947, filed June 8, 1898, is

selaer and State of New York, citizens of the described and claimed an apparatus for oom United States, have invented a new and usepressing cotton or other material in which fulApparatus for Compressing Cotton,Wool, are employed a chamber or holder open at or other Material, of which the following is a both ends and a slotted cap or head for one 1o specification. end of said chamber, these parts bei ug moun t- This invention relates to apparatus for comed for relative rotation. In the operation of pressing cotton, Wool, or other material. a baling apparatus embodying these generic The object of the invention is to improve features the chamber is preliminarily filled, the construction of apparatus of this class by hand or otherwise, with the material to be 6o 15 and to provide means for varying the comcondensed or compressed or some other suitpressing effect thereof to suit difierent kinds able material sufficient to form a body in the and conditions of material to be compressed chamber. Then by imparting a relative roand to vary the density to which such matetation to the chamber and cap and supplying rial may be compressed. the material to be compressed or condensed 2o Theinvention consists, substantially, in the to or adjacent to the slot or slots in the cap organization and the combinations, arrangesuch material is caught or engaged by the ments, and constructions, all as will be more body of material preliminarily introduced fully hereinafter set forth, as shown in the into the chamber-and is drawn into the chamaccompanying drawings, and finally pointed her and compressed and formed into con- 25 out in the appended claims. densed spiral layers, the body of material con- Referring to the accompanying drawings tained in the chamber being augmented endand to the various views appearing thereon wise by each spiral layer thus added thereto illustrating operative embodiments of the and correspondingly advanced through the principles of the invention, Figure l is a view chamber, finally emerging from the chamber 0 in central section of an apparatus embodying in the form of a column in a condensed or features of construction embraced within the compressed state. Itis described in said patscope of our invention. Fig. 2 is a broken entsandapplication that the relative rotation detail sectional view showing a manner of of the chamber and cap may be secured by v mounting the ends of the taper or choke adrotating either one of these parts or by ro- 8o 5 justing plates or slats. Fig. 3 is a broken detating both in opposite directions. tached detail view, partly in perspective, of It is the special purpose of the present inthe opposite end of a taper or choke adjustvention to provideaconstruction and arrangeing plate or slat. Fig. 4 is a similar View of ment in an apparatus embodying the generic aform of adjusting-slide embodying the prinprinciples above set forth whereby the ma- 4o ciples of our invention. Fig. 5 is a broken chine may be efficiently adapted to the comdetail sectional View showing a form of adpression and condensation of material of difjusting means assembled foroperation. Fig. ferent qualities or conditions of fiber, mois- 6is a similar view of another arrangement inture, and the like and to different kinds of eluded within the scope of our invention and materialsuch, for instance, as cotton, wool, 0 45 illustrative of its generic character. hair, grass, hay, sisal grass, hemp, alfalfa, The same part is designated by the same rags, excelsior, and other materialand whereby the degree of compression or condensation which takes place may also be varied to suit varying conditions or kinds of material. These purposes we accomplish by providing means for adjusting the choke or internal taper of the chamber. This idea may be embodied in a wide variety of mechanical constructions and arrangements. While, therefore, we have shown and will now describe various arrangements of operative apparatus for securing the desired result, we desire it to be understood that the invention is not limited or restricted in its scope to these constructions.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, reference-sign A designates the holder or chamber, open at both ends, and B the slotted cap or head for one end of said chamber or holder. These parts may be mounted for relative rotation, as above explained. For

. instance and as illustrative of the idea, the

chamber or holder A is journaled to rotate, while the cap is held stationary. To this end suitable bearings for said chamber or holder are provided in a suitable framework 0, and rotation may be imparted to said chamber through gear D from any suitable source of power. Arranged within the chamber or holder and extending longitudinally thereof are a series of slats or plates E, said slats or plates being arranged at suitable intervals or spaced as close together as may be desired on theinner surface of the chamber or holder and constituting, in client, a chamber or basket Within cham her or holderA, such inner chamber or basket built up of independent plates or slats. With this arrangement. in order to secure the objects in View, the plates or slats E are adjust-ably mounted, so as to he moved at the ends thereof farthest from the cap or head toward or from the axial center of the chamber or holder A, thus varying the degree of taper of the passage through the chamber or holder and through which the material passes from the receiving to the discharging end of the chamber, and hence regulating the choke of the chamber. A con venient arrangement is shown wherein the ends of the plates or slats E which are nearest the receiving end of the chamber are loosely mounted to permitthe otherends to be moved, so as to contract the diameter of the passage through the chamber more or less from the receivingend thereof to the delivery end. In the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the ends of the plates or slats nearest the receiving end of the chamber are looselystepped or received in seats formed between the sleeve F and the adjacent surface of chamber or plates or slats, but also bringing the. inner surface of said slats or plates into substantial continuation of the inner surface of sleeve F. Of course it is evident that the sleeve F may be omitted and the ends of the plates or slats loosely mounted in any other suitable manner. If desired and in order to reduce the friction of contact of the material with the inner surface of the plates or slats during the advancement of the material through the chamber, a lagging J, presenting a polished surface to the material, may be applied to the inner surface of the plates or slats, or, if desired, the inner surface of the slats or plates may be suitably polished and the lagging omitted. The plates or slats E may be suitably curved in the transverse section thereof to conform to the cylindrical contour of the chamber, or they may be of such narrow dimension as to render such curving unnecessary, as will be obvious.

At the delivery'end of the chamber the plates or slats may be supported upon a suitable ledge or plate or other support K. Aconvenient arrangement is to provide the ends of the plates or slats with flanges, as indicated at L. Various means may be employed for effecting the desired adjustment of the plates or slats to vary or regulate the taper or choke of the chamber. As illustrative of operative means for accomplishing this result we may provide suitable slides M, (see Figs. 1, 4, and 5,) having lugs or projections N,with inclined surfaces arranged to engage cooperating lugs or projections 0, formed on or secured to the plates or slats E, threaded bolts P operating to move said slides, said bolts passing through the supporting-plate K and, if desired, passing through slots Q in the flanges L of the plates or slats, as clearly shown, and tapped through a lug or projection R on the slides M. From this construction it will be seen that when the bolts Pare suitably turned the slides M are moved so as to cause the inclined surface of the lugs or project-ions N thereon to engage the inclined surface of the cooperating lugs or projections O on the plates or slats E, thereby crowding the ends of said plates or slats at the delivery end of the chamber toward the axis of rotation of the chamber, and hence adjusting the taper or choke of the bore of the passage through the chamber. A suitable spring S maybe provided for imposing a desirable tension on the parts and taking up lost motion.

Instead of the form of adjusting means above described many other specifically-different forms of mechanical constructions may be employed and are included within the spirit and scope of our invention. For instance, we may employ a ring T, having an inclined surface arranged to operate against a cooperating inclined surface on the plates or slat-s, as shown in Fig. 6, the said ring being arranged to encircle the plates or slats. By suitably adjusting the ring '1, as by means of set-screws W, the desired adjustment of the plates or slats E may be secured.

WVhile we have described the taper orchoke adjusting plates or slats as being arranged within the chamber or holder, it is obvious that our invention includes the arrangement wherein the plates or slats form the chamber or holder.

Many variations and changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts would readily occur to persons skilled in the art and still fall within the spirit and scope of our invention. WVe do not desire, therefore, to be limited or restricted to the construclions, details, and arrangements shown and described as illustrative embodiments of our invention; but,

Having now set forth the object and nature of our invention and various'einbodiments of the principles thereof and having described such embodiments, their construction, function, and mode of operation, what we claim as new and useful and of our own invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is I 1. In an apparatus for compressing or condensing fibrous or other material, a chamber or holder having a passage therethrough, in combination with means for delivering the material into said chamber or holder in superposed highly compressed and condensed layers and correspondingly advancing the same through such chamber or holder, and means for varying the taper of said passage to regulate the resistance to such advancement, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In an apparatus for compressing or condensing fibrous or other material, an openended chamber having a tapering bore, and means for varying the taper of such bore, in combination with mechanism for forming the material into highly compressed and condensed layers and superposing the same upon each other within said chamber, thereby correspondingly advancing the compressed material through such chamber, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In an apparatus for compressing or condensing fibrous or other material, a series of plates or slats arranged to form a passage for the material to be compressed, and means for adjustably tapering such passage, in combination with means for forming the material into thin, highly compressed and condensed layers, and superposing the same upon each other within such passage, whereby such material is correspondingly advanced through such passage, as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In an apparatus of the class described, a holder, including a series of slats or plates, arranged to form a tapering passage for the material, said slats or plates being loosely held at the receiving end of such passage, means for adjusting the opposite ends of said slat-s or plates, whereby the taper of said passage is varied, and means for advancing the material through such passage, as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In an apparatus of the class described, a holder, including a series of plates or slats, arranged to form a passage for the material, and loosely held at one end, a movable piece having an inclined surface arranged to engage a cooperating surface on the opposite ends of said plates or slats, whereby when said movable piece is adjusted the taper of said passage is varied, and means for advancing the material through such passage, as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In an apparatus of the class described, a series of plates or slats arranged to form a passage, and loosely mounted at one end, said plates or slats provided with an inclined surface at the opposite ends thereof, an adjustable slide having cooperating inclined surfaces, and means for advancing the material through such passage, as and for the purpose set forth.

7. In an apparatus of the class described, a holder or chamber, a series of slats or plates arranged longitudinally on the inner surface thereof to form a tapering passage, said slats or plates being loosely held at the receiving ends thereof, and means for adjusting the delivery ends thereof toward and from the axial center of said chamber, whereby the taper of the passage through such chamber is varied, and means for advancing the material to be compressed through such pasage, as and for the purpose set forth.

8. In an apparatus of the class described, a chamber or holder, open at both ends,'a sleeve arranged at the receiving end thereof, a series of slats or plates arranged in substantial continuation of the inner surface of said sleeve, means for adjusting the ends of said slats or plates at the delivery end of said chamber or holder, whereby the taper of the passage through said chamber or holder may be varied, and means for advancing the material through such passage, as and for the purpose set forth.

9. In an apparatus of the class described,

an open-ended chamber or holder, and a slotted cap or head, and means for relatively moving these parts, in combination with means for varying the taper of the bore of said chamber, as and for the purpose set forth.

10. In an apparatus of the class described, a series of plates or slats arranged to form an open-ended passage, and a slotted cap for one end of said passage, and means for relatively IIO moving these parts, in combination with means for adj listing saidslats or plates to vary the taper of said passage, as and for the purpose set forth.

11. In a cotton or other press, the combination With a series of slats arranged to form a chamber or holder, said slats being movable, whereby the taper of the bore of said chamber may be varied, of a slotted cap or head plate, and means for relatively rotating said chamber and cap or head plate, as and for the purpose set forth.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand, this 23d day of May, 1899, in the presence of the subscribing witnesses.

' GEORGE A. LOWRY.

Witnesses:

J. H. WHALEN, T. K. RIDDICK.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand, this 26th day of May, 1899, in the presenee of the subscribing witnesses.

WATSON M. HOLMES.

Witnesses:

ALBERT M. LYON, JOHN J. BOSSEN. 

